Amazing She Was; Audrey

                                                            Riley Gang. circa 1980

  

(To my cousins; Sharon, Stephanie, Robin and Pat)

Dear Girls,

I am so saddened to hear of Audrey’s passing. She is the world's best mother. 

I am in awe of your mom to this day. Birthing and raising 7 children, she did it quietly 

and flawlessly with Uncle Ben off each week connecting VT. to the rest of the world working for AT&T.. Amazing she was, Audrey..

One time a few years ago when Lilli was a freshman in college, we were driving around Sarasota, Florida and visited Aunt Audrey when she was still living with Uncle Ben in "Golden Gulf Gate".

It was the beginning of car navigators and we called our navigator Sandy. I guess because we were at the beach. Little did we know that name would come back to haunt us this week. But it helped us to find your mom and dad. We had a very nice visit. She showed us all of the grapefruit and orange trees right in her front yard and the beautiful eucalyptus.. It was her very own paradise..

Years later when Gene got his navigator for the car, he asked “what should we name this navigator,?” and immediately I said “Audrey, “ after your mom, because she was to me, the compass for our family after the other five had passed.

She was a role model; raising 7 children on a farm in the country, in the fresh air with lots of room.  And once the kids were grown, she was off to Florida to be surrounded by family in her later years.  She had a wonderful life and that is what I always try to focus on when someone close to me dies; what a great life on earth they did have..

So with Audrey joining the other five, it is hard for us down here on earth because she has been with all of us the whole way..

So Cry, cry and cry as hard as you can, whenever you want to -- because you will miss her more than you know. I think losing my parents and Kathy was the hardest thing I have ever experienced in my life..

But time does heal.  It has been 4 years since Mom died, 6 years since Papa and Lisa and 9 years since Kathy.. Suddenly though, after their death, you will feel them always with you and even closer when you need them in a spiritual way..

Holding babies helps a lot as well as spending time with your children and grandchildren.. That and making the best of each day is what it really is all about.  We are all here for a very short time and seeing other people leave is not easy.

These people made us; literally and figuratively.. And for some reason after they die, you feel even closer to them especially in times of need and uncertainty.  And don’t forget to walk, everyday, because you will see wonderful things and you will feel better..

When the hurricane hit last week on the north east coast of the country and left the place in Narragansett standing, I said to Rick, “well, we’re still here and so is the place, “ so onward we go, all of us …

My heart aches for you girls. But you have each other, so be strong and stay in touch.

Love you,

JMC